PHI Achieves Level 4 of FAA SMS Program

By By Katie Kriz, Assistant Managing Editor | August 13, 2014

PHI, Inc. has achieved the highest level, Level 4, of the Federal Aviation Administration’s voluntary Safety Management System (SMS) pilot program. The SMS program is quickly becoming a standard in the industry, being recognized by the Joint Planning and Development Office (JPDO), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and Civil Aviation Authorities (CAA) as the next step in the evolution of safety beyond aviation. According to the FAA, SMS combines modern safety risk management and safety assurance concepts into a proactive system that aids with safety risk management decision making, capability and safety promotion.

PHI worked alongside with Flight Standards District Office Certificate Management Team members over the past year to reach Level 4, becoming one of the first operators to do this through the Option 2 process.

PHI provides transportation services for clients in the offshore oil and gas, onshore mining, international, air medical, and technical services industries. More than 11 million flight hours have been recorded by PHI pilots in various airframes and terrain.